Sujeo

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Sujeo

Sujeo, a set of Korean eating utensils.

Korean name

Hangul	수저
Revised Romanization	Sujeo
McCune-Reischauer	Sujŏ

Sujeo is the Korean word for the set of eating utensils commonly used in eating Korean cuisine or food. The word is a contraction of the word sutgarak (숟가락, "spoon") and jeotgarak (젓가락, "chopsticks"). The sujeo set includes a pair of oval-shaped often metallic (stainless steel, brass, copper, silver) chopsticks, and a long handled shallow spoon of the same materials. One can use both frequently at the same time, picking up food with a spoon, and eating it then with chopsticks, however this is a modern function of hasty eating. In addition, it is not considered good etiquette to hold the spoon and the chopstick together in one hand especially while eating with elders. More often food is eaten with chopsticks separately. Upon occasion the spoon apart from chopsticks is referred to as sujeo.

Chopsticks may be put down on a table, but never put into food standing up, particularly rice, as this is considered to bring bad luck. At tables, the spoon may be laid down on the rice bowl, or soup bowl, if it is not used. As food is eaten very quickly, and portions are often very small, little time is spent in putting eating utensils down.

Cases for sujeo in paper or Korean fabrics were often embroidered with symbols of longevity and given as gifts, particularly at weddings. They are now sold as souvenirs.